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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
|Cover artist
|Publication information
|Release date
|Followed by
|...This is a terrific book.
–The Sunday Telegraph[2]
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first novel in the Harry Potter series. The book was first published on 26 June, 1997 by Bloomsbury in London, and has also been made into a film of the same name.
Both the book and motion picture were released in the United States under the name Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, because the publishers were concerned that most Americans were not familiar enough with the term "Philosopher's Stone" to gain the correct impression from the title (the renaming of books for international distribution is a common practise, even for highly known and internationally recognised authors. The decision was made to choose a title that was "more suggestive of magic", the naming of "Sorcerer's Stone" used with J. K. Rowling's endorsement after the contemplation of several possibilities).[3] The change had no effect on the sales figures, and the Harry Potter series rapidly became one of the most-in-demand among young readers, who seemed to be undaunted by the ever-increasing length and complexity of the novels.
"For Jessica, who loves stories, for Anne, who loved them too, and for Di, who heard this one first."
The book is dedicated to three female relatives of the author, Jessica is her eldest daughter, Anne was her mother who died of multiple sclerosis, and Di is her sister.
Book description[edit]
"Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.
But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter."
Chapter 1: The Boy Who Lived[edit]
|To Harry Potter - the boy who lived!
–People meeting in secret all over the country offering a toast to Harry.
Vernon and Petunia Dursley, who have a one year old son named Dudley, are proud to think they are the most normal people on Privet Drive. Vernon works at a drill company called Grunnings, while Petunia does housework. One day when Vernon is leaving for work, he sees a tabby cat reading a map and, later, reading the street sign. He then figures it is looking at the sign, not reading it. Later in the day, he sees people in cloaks talking in hushed voices. When he's sitting in his office, a swarm of owls fly past his window, but he takes no notice.
On his break he goes to a bakery to get a bun and sees a group of extravagantly-cloaked figures. Even though they are speaking in hushed voices, he overhears some of their conversation, which includes a mention of "the Potters and their son Harry." Vernon finds this horrifying as the Potters were the family of Petunia's sister. Vernon and Petunia would be embarrassed if people found out they were related to the Potters, as the Potters were in some way strange. When he leaves his work, he bumps into a very small, similarly-cloaked man, who tells Vernon that someone called You-Know-Who has been defeated and that even Muggles like Vernon should be celebrating. Vernon does not know what a Muggle is and is offended that the man would call him one.
That night, when Vernon arrives at home, he asks Petunia if her sister has been in touch. She becomes angry and says no. On the news that night, the newsman says owls had been seen everywhere earlier in the day (something unusual for owls), and that fireworks had been spotted in Kent. When the Dursleys went to bed, a long bearded man in a purple cloak appears out of nowhere outside of their home. This man is Albus Dumbledore, a wizard. He siphons all of the light from the street lamps with his Deluminator.
He meets with a witch named Minerva McGonagall, who is revealed to be the cat Vernon Dursley saw earlier in the morning, and they speak about the deaths of Lily and James Potter and how their son Harry survived the attack. A motorbike with a gigantic man riding it lands in front of them. The giant, Rubeus Hagrid, is carrying baby Harry. He hands him to Dumbledore who leaves him and a letter to Vernon and Petunia on the doorstep of 4 Privet Drive and leaves. Everywhere in the world, wizards and witches are raising their glasses in a toast to Harry, who they proclaim to be "the boy who lived."
Chapter 2: The Vanishing Glass[edit]
|Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel - Harry often said that Dudley looked like a pig in a wig.
–Description of the Dursleys' son.
It has almost been ten years since the Dursleys awoke to find Harry Potter lying on their doorstep. Privet Drive and the Dursleys' house has not changed since that day. The only difference was the pictures of Dudley Dursley's aging. There is no sign that Harry lives there. However, in the cupboard under the stairs, Harry indeed sleeps. Petunia comes to his door and wakes him with a shrill voice.
Harry is trying to think about the dream he had been having. It was about a flying motorbike, and Harry thinks he had had the same dream before. Aunt Petunia tells him to make bacon, as she wanted everything special for Dudley's 11th birthday. Harry dresses and goes into the kitchen where the table is covered in Dudley's presents. Harry thinks that because he lives in a cupboard, he is small and skinny. All he has to wear are Dudley's old clothes.
Harry has jet-black hair and green eyes. His glasses are held together by sellotape because Dudley had smashed them so many times. The thing that distinguishes Harry the most is the lightning-bolt scar on his forehead. Harry often wondered how he got it, and the Dursleys have told him it was caused in the car crash that killed Harry's parents, Lily and James. He had to leave it at that, though, because the Dursleys' first rule was not to ask questions.
Dudley comes in and begins to count his presents, only to find 37, which was one fewer than the year before. Aunt Petunia states they are going to buy him two new presents while they are out. Vernon tells Petunia that Arabella Figg, the next-door neighbour, has broken her leg and cannot take Harry when they go to the Zoo. They can't think of anyone else who can take care of him, so Harry has to go with them.
Dudley is allowed to take a friend to the Zoo and chooses his friend Piers Polkiss. Piers comes to the house with his mother. A half-hour later, Harry sits in the car with Dudley, Piers, Vernon and Petunia. On the way, a motorbike overtakes them, and Vernon complains about them. Harry explains that he had a dream about a flying motorbike, and Vernon snappily reminds him that motorbikes do not fly. Harry thinks about all the strange things that had happened to him: He had once turned his teacher's wig blue, jumped onto the school chimney, and grew all of his hair back by the morning after a haircut.
At the zoo, Dudley and Piers find all of the animals boring. Harry is left to watch a Boa constrictor as it sleeps. When Dudley tries to make it move, it wakes up but still doesn't move. The snake then begins to move after Dudley and Piers slink away. Harry is astounded by the snake; he speaks to the snake and finds that it understands him. Piers calls Dudley and Vernon back to the snake's exhibit. Dudley pushes Harry out of the way and presses his face against the glass. Harry becomes angry and somehow the glass vanishes and Dudley falls in. Harry believes he hears the snake speak as it slithers away. Uncle Vernon believes it was magic and blames Harry for it.
Chapter 3: The Letters from No One[edit]
Ever since the Boa Constrictor escaped from the zoo, Uncle Vernon blamed it on Harry, and he was locked in his cupboard for the longest time ever. When Harry was allowed out, it was the beginning of the summer holidays. Even though they were not at school, Harry still couldn't escape Dudley and his gang, who regularly visited the house. He usually wandered around Privet Drive to escape from them. He was glad however, that Dudley and Piers were going to Smeltings Academy while Harry was going to Stonewall High.
One day, Harry was told to get the post for Uncle Vernon. He did as he was told, and if he did not, he would get poked with Dudley's stick. Apparently, boys who went to Smeltings Academy were required to own a stick for hitting people with and Dudley was practicing on Harry. When he went to get the mail, there were three letters: a postcard from Uncle Vernon's sister, Marjorie Dursley who was on holiday in the Isle of Wight, a letter that looked like a bill, and a letter for Harry. Harry took the letter and studied the yellow parchment it was made of, and then read the address:
Mr. H. Potter
Harry couldn't believe it. He had never had a letter to him in his life. On the back there was a wax seal with a Lion, Snake, Badger and Eagle surrounding a H. Harry returned to the kitchen and gave Uncle Vernon the two letters. He sat down and started to open the letter. Uncle Vernon told everyone Aunt Marge was ill after eating a funny whelk. Dudley saw that Harry had a letter and Uncle Vernon snatched it from him and showed Aunt Petunia. Uncle Vernon told Harry and Dudley to get out, so they shut the door as they stood in the hall.
They fought over who would look through the keyhole. Dudley won, so Harry looked through the space between the floor and the door. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were discussing the seal on the back. Uncle Vernon said they should just ignore it. Later, when Harry was in his cupboard, Uncle Vernon came in and said he had burned the letter, and that they were moving him up to Dudley's second bedroom, which was used for Dudley's discarded toys. Harry moved all of his things up to the bedroom, wishing he had his letter. Downstairs, another letter came but it was addressed to Harry, the smallest bedroom, so whoever was sending the letters knew he had moved to the bedroom.
The next morning, Harry crept down the stairs and approached the door. He was going to camp out there and when the post arrived, he would get and read his letter. When he went to the door, however, he stood on Uncle Vernon who had had the same idea. Every day, more letters appeared to Harry, and they were doubling in number. There were so many that Uncle Vernon nailed shut the letter box. But they were cropping up in the strangest of places, under the door, even squeezed through the window. Aunt Petunia found some in the eggs; then they got attacked by thirty or forty letters being fired out of the fireplace. Uncle Vernon became angry and said they were leaving.
They had got into their car and left. They travelled miles, and kept doubling back trying to shake them off. They eventually stopped in front of a gloomy hotel on the brink of a big city. They were not successful, however, as more letters came for Harry to the hotel. They left again and got a boat to an island with a small hut on it. Harry remembered that the next day would be his eleventh birthday. When they got there, they lay down to bed. Harry couldn't sleep with the raging storm outside. He was counting down the time until his birthday. When his watch turned to twelve AM, at that precise moment, there was a loud knocking at the door. Something was wanting in...
Chapter 4: The Keeper of the Keys[edit]
|A wizard, o' course, an' a thumpin' good'un, I'd say, once yeh've been trained up a bit.
–Hagrid telling Harry that he is a wizard.
There is another loud boom on the door and Dudley wakes up, thinking it is a cannon. Uncle Vernon comes through with a rifle, with Aunt Petunia cowering behind him. The door is blasted off its hinges and hits the floor. A giant enters and fixes the door into its frame. The giant asks for a cup of coffee then sits on the couch next to Dudley, scaring him away to hide behind Aunt Petunia.
The giant turns his eyes to Harry, and greets him, saying he hasn't seen him since he was a baby. He says Harry looks like his father but has his mother's eyes. Uncle Vernon tells him to leave, but the giant merely grabs the gun, ties into a knot and throws it away. The giant presents Harry with a birthday cake. Harry asks the giant who he is and he says he is Rubeus Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hagrid makes a fire and cooks some sausages. Hagrid is shocked that Harry knows nothing about Hogwarts. He gets angry at the Dursleys for not telling him anything about his parents' world, his world. Harry has no idea what was going on. Hagrid tells Harry his parents were famous and that he was a wizard, despite Uncle Vernon forbidding him to. Hagrid gives Harry the letter that he had been craving for. It told him that he had been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and that term began on 1st September.
Hagrid took out parchment and a quill and wrote a letter to Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, explaining he had given Harry the letter. Uncle Vernon affirmed to Hagrid that Harry wouldn't be going, but the giant bet that a Muggle like him would not be able to try and stop him. Uncle Vernon revealed he knew that he was a Wizard, and Aunt Petunia told Harry that her sister, Harry's mother, was a witch. Petunia said they were killed by another wizard, and Harry screamed that Petunia said they got killed in a car crash. Hagrid was as outraged as Harry was that the Vernons had lied that much. He sat down and told Harry that a Dark Wizard named Lord Voldemort killed Harry's parents and tried to kill Harry too. But the spell he used backfired, and he was seemingly destroyed, only leaving Harry his scar. Hagrid told him that he brought Harry from the ruins of the house and brought him to the Vernons' house on 4 Privet Drive. Uncle Vernon said it was a load of rubbish, and tried to persuade Harry that whatever happened to his parents was deserved anyway, but Hagrid pulled an umbrella out of his coat and threatened Uncle Vernon.
Harry doubted that he was a wizard but then believed that he was. Uncle Vernon makes the mistake of mocking Dumbledore and Hagrid swished the umbrella, in Dudley's direction, and Dudley sprouts a curly pig's tail. Hagrid asked Harry not to mention it at Hogwarts because Hagrid wasn't allowed to do magic, as he had been expelled. Hagrid takes off his coat and Harry sleeps under that for the night, for the day ahead.
Chapter 5: Diagon Alley[edit]
|Harry wished he had about eight more eyes. He turned his head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping.
–Harry at the Diagon Alley.
When Harry wakes the next morning, he tries to tell himself that what happened the previous night had all been a dream. He tried to convince himself that Hagrid taking him to a school for Wizards called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had never happened. But when he opens his eyes, Hagrid had fallen asleep on the couch and he found that it had all happened. He hears a tapping noise coming from the window and lets in an Owl. The owl drops a newspaper on Hagrid's lap and begins to claw Hagrid's coat.
Hagrid tells Harry to pay the owl so Harry does what he says and the owl leaves. Hagrid tells him they have to go and buy his things, but Harry worries because he hasn't got any money. Hagrid tells him his parents didn't leave him without money, and that their first stop was Gringotts, the wizard's bank. He explains that it is run by Goblins and that "you'd be mad to try and rob it". Hagrid says Dumbledore also needs something from Gringotts, so Hagrid has to go get it.
They step outside the hut and step into their boat. Hagrid uses a bit of magic to speed things up for them. Hagrid says there are Enchantments guarding the vaults in Gringotts. Gringotts is all under London, and you would die of starvation trying to get out. Hagrid began to read the Daily Prophet and mutters that the Ministry of Magic were messing things up as usual. Harry wonders what the Ministry of Magic does, and Hagrid explains that they handle everything to do with magic. He says they wanted Dumbledore for Minister, but Cornelius Fudge got the job.
As they passed through London, people stared at Hagrid a lot, due to his size and that he was pointing out things that Muggles were brilliant for inventing. Harry asked if there were Dragons guarding Gringotts. Hagrid says yes and mutters that he would like a dragon. Harry took out his list and read it out. It said he needed a set of robes, a pointed hat, Dragon hide gloves, and a winter coat. There was a list of his books and stationary equipment. Hagrid leads them both into a pub called the Leaky Cauldron that Harry did not notice was there.
It was dark and shabby and everyone greeted Hagrid as he entered. When people saw Harry, many got up and shook his hand, including Doris Crockford and Dedalus Diggle. A man with a turban approaches them and Hagrid introduces Harry to Quirinus Quirrell, the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. They talk for a bit then Hagrid steers them out a back door into a small enclosed area with a few barrels. Hagrid takes out his umbrella and taps bricks with it, counting an order. Once he is done, a hole appears in the brick wall, slowly getting bigger, until the wall disappears fully, revealing a crowded street with people wearing robes everywhere with shops left and right. Hagrid tells Harry the street is called Diagon Alley.
When they were walking down the street, Harry was trying to look everywhere around him, taking in as much as possible. At the end of Diagon Alley, there is a snowy white building, huge in size: Gringotts. As they enter, a warning echoes through telling them rob at your own risk. Harry and Hagrid go up to a Goblin and explain they need to take some money out of Harry's vault. The Goblin asks for Harry's key and Hagrid presents it, after sorting through many other keys. The Goblin calls upon another Goblin named Griphook to take them down to the vault. Hagrid also states they need to be taken down to remove the You-Know-What in Vault 713.
Griphook takes them to Vault 713, and Hagrid removes the grubby little package there but can't tell Harry what it is. Griphook then takes them to Harry's vault, where there is a large amount of money piled up there that Harry owned. There were Knuts, Sickles, and Gold Galleons. Harry and Hagrid took a bit of the money for Harry's list, then left Gringotts. Hagrid had to stand for a bit as the cart that took them to the vaults made him sick.
Hagrid decided they get Harry's uniform first so they entered Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions. Madam Malkin measured him then he sat on a chair next to a pale-faced boy getting his robes. The boy started to talk about smuggling a Broomstick into Hogwarts somehow, then about something called Quidditch. Harry felt very out of place with him, as he was talking about houses called Slytherin and Hufflepuff. The boy pointed out Hagrid then said the other kind shouldn't be allowed in. When Harry left, he told Hagrid and Hagrid said there were four houses at Hogwarts, Quidditch is a game played on Broomsticks and then left to buy Harry the rest of his things.
All Harry had left was his wand, so he and Hagrid entered Ollivanders, a Wand shop. Mr. Ollivander came round, scaring them both, and greeting Harry and Hagrid. Ollivander began to talk about Harry's parents' wands, and how he remembers selling them. Ollivander touches Harry's scar and apologises for the fact that he sold the wand that caused it. Ollivander gave Harry a wand and told him to give it a wave. Harry did so, but it wasn't suitable for him, so Ollivander took it back. Harry tried many wands, but none of them seemed to work well enough for him. Eventually, he picked up a wand and he felt warmth in his fingers.
Ollivander stated that it was curious that Harry should be destined for that wand when its brother gave Harry his scar. Hagrid took Harry to get something to eat in the Muggle world but Harry was worried that he wasn't going to fit in at Hogwarts as everyone expected great things from him. For Harry's birthday, Hagrid had bought for Harry an owl named Hedwig. Hagrid provided Harry with a train ticket, giving him the date, time, and location to catch the Hogwarts Express and told Harry that if he ever needed anything, he was to write a letter, and Hedwig would know where to find him. Harry then caught a train back to the Dursleys.
Chapter 6: The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters[edit]
|Funny way to get to a wizards' school, the train. Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?
–Vernon Dursley mocking Harry about the journey to Hogwarts.
Harry's last month with the Dursleys is unpleasant. The day before he is due to leave, Harry asks Uncle Vernon to take him to the King's Cross station. Uncle Vernon agrees to take him but ridicules him for saying he is to leave from platform nine and three quarters, as is marked on the ticket Hagrid gave him. The following day, Harry arrives at the station and stands between platforms nine and ten, wondering how to find platform nine and three quarters. Finally, he overhears some people mention Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; it is a family of red-haired children who seem to be bound for the school. He asks the mother for help, and she tells him to run through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Harry does so, and he is astonished to find the train to Hogwarts on the other side of the station. Harry, then, boards the Hogwarts Express.
On the train, Harry is introduced to Fred and George Weasley, twins who are returning to school, and to their younger brother Ron, another student who will be starting at Hogwarts. Ron introduces Harry to such details of wizard life as Quidditch, Famous Witches and Wizards cards, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. One of the cards bears the picture of Albus Dumbledore. Ron, who comes from a poor family, cannot afford the pastries sold on the train, so Harry buys a lot with his newfound wealth and shares them with Ron. Harry also meets a somewhat annoying, overachieving girl named Hermione Granger and sees again the unpleasant boy from the uniform shop, whose name is Draco Malfoy, this time with his buddies, Crabbe and Goyle. After Draco made some rude comments about Ron, Harry rejects Draco's offer to advise him about associating with the right kind of wizards. All the students have heard of Harry, and Harry is not sure how to respond to his fame. Arriving at the station, the newcomers are led by Hagrid onto boats which they sail to the castle of Hogwarts.
Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat[edit]
|If only the hat had mentioned a house for people who felt a bit queasy, that would have been the one for him.
–Harry, about the Sorting Hat.
The new students are greeted at the castle door by Professor McGonagall, who tells them they will soon be sorted into their houses. All Hogwarts students live in one of four residences: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin, with each house having its own team for Quidditch. The houses are in a yearlong competition with one another to acquire the most points, which are earned by success in Quidditch games and given by teachers for academic achievement, and lost for student infractions, in order to win the House Cup awarded at the end of the year. As the students enter Hogwarts, ghosts appear in the hallway. The students are led to the Great Hall, where the entire school waits for them. They see an old pointy hat on a stool. When the students try on the Sorting Hat, it announces the house in which they are placed. Harry becomes very nervous. He has learned that he does not care for Slytherin house, as the students in it are unpleasant and Voldemort once belonged to Slytherin. The annoying girl Hermione from the train is Sorted into Gryffindor, much to Ron's displeasure. Finally, it is Harry's turn to wear the hat. After a brief mental discussion with the hat in which it tries to suggest Slytherin to him, the hat places Harry in Gryffindor. Harry is pleased to find that Ron joins in Gryffindor with him. Draco Malfoy is placed in Slytherin.
Everyone sits down to a grand feast to begin the year. Harry is overwhelmed by the variety of luscious food served. Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, the resident ghost of Gryffindor (popularly known as Nearly Headless Nick because of a botched decapitation), introduces himself to the first-year students and tells them he hopes they will win the house championship this year. Over dessert, the discussion turns to the students' upbringings. A student named Neville Longbottom tells how his family thought he was a Muggle (or later referred to as a Squib), until he survived a fall from a window. Another student, Seamus Finnigan, talks about how his father, a Muggle, was shocked when first finding out his wife (Seamus' mother) was a witch. Harry glances around the room and notices a few of the teachers talking to one another. One of them, while speaking to Quirrell, stares malevolently at Harry, who immediately feels a sharp pain in his forehead scar. Harry finds out that this man is Professor Severus Snape, who teaches Potions. After dessert, Dumbledore gets up to make his welcome speech. He adds a few warnings about staying away from the Forbidden Forest and avoiding the 3rd-floor corridor on the right side of the school before sending everyone off to bed in their Common rooms.
Chapter 8: The Potions Master[edit]
|Ah, yes. Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity.
–Severus Snape.
Harry finds life at Hogwarts unfamiliar and strange. Everyone talks about him, and an adult always seems to be around when he is doing something wrong. Harry finds all the classes interesting, with the exception of History of Magic. In the first Transfiguration class, only Hermione is able to make any progress at turning a match into a needle. Harry is relieved to see that his peers are just as lost as he is.
During breakfast the first Friday, Harry's snowy owl, Hedwig, arrives with a tea invitation from Hagrid. Later, in his Potions class, Harry discovers that Professor Snape hates him, mocking Harry as "our new celebrity" and then humiliating Harry for his ignorance of potion-making materials. Harry brings Ron with him to Hagrid's shack for tea. Harry and Ron are disconcerted by Hagrid's huge and fierce-looking dog, Fang, but discover that he is gentle. Hagrid tells Harry that he is overreacting to Snape's treatment, asserting that Snape would have no reason to hate him. Harry happens to notice an article from the wizard newspaper, the Daily Prophet, detailing a break-in that occurred at Gringotts bank in a vault that had been emptied earlier in the day. He realises that it happened on his birthday, the day he and Hagrid went to Gringotts. Furthermore, he remembers that Hagrid emptied vault seven hundred and thirteen, taking a small package with him as he left. Harry leaves Hagrid's, his mind filled with questions.
Chapter 9: The Midnight Duel[edit]
|We could all have been killed - or worse, expelled. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to bed.
–Hermione complaining about their "adventure".
Harry has been going to Hogwarts for around 2 weeks when he finds out that the Gryffindors will have flying lessons with the Slytherins, much to his disliking. Harry does not want to spend more time with Malfoy than he has to. However, Harry finds that he is quite a natural at flying. Madam Hooch leads the class, gently sending the new fliers off the ground. Neville has an accident when his broom runs amok and breaks his wrist. Madam Hooch takes him to the hospital, telling everyone to stay on the ground while she is away. Malfoy notices a Remembrall belonging to Neville, picks it up, and begins to fly around with it. Harry goes after Malfoy, who throws the ball in the air. Harry catches it spectacularly and lands safely back on ground. Just then, Professor McGonagall arrives, reprimanding Harry and ordering him to follow her. But instead of punishing him, McGonagall introduces him to Oliver Wood, captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, explaining that Harry will make an excellent Quidditch player.
At dinner, Harry excitedly tells Ron about joining the Quidditch team but tells him that Wood wants it to be a secret. Malfoy comes over with his cronies Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle and teases Harry about getting in trouble earlier. The tension grows and Malfoy challenges Harry to a wizard's duel. Harry accepts, in spite of Hermione's attempt to dissuade them from breaking the school rules. As Harry and Ron sneak out later that night, Hermione tries to stop them but gets locked out of the dorm (the Fat Lady has gone for an evening stroll) and must tag along. Neville also joins them, as he has forgotten the password to the common room and ended up sleeping on the floor outside. They arrive at the Trophy Room, the site of the duel, but Malfoy is nowhere to be found. Suddenly, they hear Argus Filch and his cat, Mrs. Norris, enter the room. With it obvious that Malfoy tricked them, they begin to hide and then run away. Not sure where they are going, they accidentally end up in the forbidden area on the third floor, staring at a large and scary three-headed dog. The children manage to get back to their dorm safely, though they are terrified. Hermione reprimands Harry but stirs his curiosity by pointing out that the dog was standing on a trapdoor.
Chapter 10: Hallowe'en[edit]
|But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.
–The beginning of a great friendship.
The next morning, Harry and Ron are discussing what the dog could be guarding when the mail arrives. Harry receives a Nimbus 2000, along with a note from Professor McGonagall summoning him to Quidditch practice. Malfoy tells Harry that first-year students are not allowed broomsticks. Malfoy then tries to report Harry to Professor Flitwick who just expresses admiration for Harry's talent having heard from McGonagall. Harry later meets Oliver Wood to learn the basics of Quidditch, including the various positions on a standard Quidditch team and the implements used in the game. Oliver explains Harry's role as a Seeker: his job is to avoid other players and catch the Golden Snitch. A Quidditch game cannot end until the Snitch is caught, making the Seeker the most important player on a team. On Hallowe'en, Flitwick begins teaching his students how to make things fly, using the Wingardium Leviosa spell. Only Hermione succeeds; Ron, offended by her air of superiority, utters a nasty comment that Hermione overhears. Harry notices her running off in tears.
Harry and Ron arrive at the Hallowe'en feast to hear Professor Quirrell, the teacher of Defence Against the Dark Arts, give a terrifying announcement about a twelve-foot troll in the building. As the prefects lead the students back to their dorms, Harry realises that Hermione does not know about the troll. They head off to warn her and come upon the troll. Unwittingly, they lock it in the girls' bathroom only to realise that Hermione is trapped in there with the troll. Using teamwork, magic, and a lot of luck, the three of them manage to knock out the troll. Professor McGonagall finds them and begins to scold the boys. Hermione interjects that Harry and Ron were looking for her. She then lies, saying that she went to face the troll herself and that Ron and Harry had been trying to save her from it. At this point, Hermione befriends them.
Chapter 11: Quidditch[edit]
|Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure.
–Lee Jordan, commentating on the Quidditch match.
As November begins, so does the Quidditch season, and Harry is about to play in his first match against Slytherin. To prepare, Harry borrows a book entitled Quidditch Through the Ages from Hermione. Professor Snape discovers Ron, Harry, and Hermione out with the book one evening and confiscates it from Harry on the feeble pretext that library books may not be taken outside of the school. Harry's suspicions of Snape continue to grow. Harry starts to notice that Snape is limping. Going off to retrieve the book from Snape, Harry overhears Snape talking to Argus Filch about the fact that the three-headed dog has attacked him, leaving a cut on his leg, which makes Harry even more suspicious.
The next morning, the Quidditch match begins. Harry spots the Golden Snitch early in the game, and is flying toward it when the Slytherin Captain pushes him out of the way and is penalised. Later in the game, Harry's broom begins jerking uncontrollably. Hagrid comments that only Dark magic could make a broomstick so hard to manage. Hermione notices that Snape is staring at Harry and muttering to himself, signs of casting a curse. As the Weasley twins try to rescue Harry in the air, Hermione rushes over to Snape in such a hurry that she knocks Quirrell over, sneaks behind Snape, and sets his robe on fire. Suddenly, the spell on Harry's broom is broken and Harry is once again in control. He starts speeding toward the ground and lands, catching the Snitch in his mouth and nearly swallowing it.
Hagrid takes Harry back to his hut with Hermione and Ron, who tells Harry that Snape was putting a curse on his broomstick. Hagrid does not believe this, asking why Snape would try to kill Harry. Harry tells Hagrid about Snape getting injured by the dog in the third-floor corridor. Hagrid involuntarily reveals that the three-headed dog, Fluffy, is his, and that what the dog is guarding is a secret known only to Albus Dumbledore and a man named Nicolas Flamel.
Chapter 12: The Mirror of Erised[edit]
|The Potters smiled and waved at Harry and he stared hungrily back at them, his hands pressed flat against the glass as though he was hoping to fall right through it and reach them. He had a powerful kind of ache inside him, half joy, half terrible sadness.
–Harry looking at the Mirror of Erised.
Christmas is approaching. Malfoy teases Harry about having to stay at Hogwarts for the holiday, as he does not have parents. Harry, however, is looking forward to spending Christmas away from the Dursleys, especially because Ron is also staying at Hogwarts, as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to visit Ron's older brother Charlie in Romania. The day before the holidays, Hermione tears Ron and Harry away from a conversation with Hagrid to look in the library for more information about Nicolas Flamel. The librarian, Madam Pince, catches Harry prowling around the restricted-books section of the library and kicks him out.
On Christmas Day, Harry and Ron awaken to presents, though Harry's are fewer. Harry receives a flute from Hagrid, a 50 pence coin from the Dursleys, some fudge and Chocolate Frogs from Hermione, and a knitted jumper from Ron's mother. He also receives an Invisibility cloak accompanied only by an anonymous note telling him that the cloak once belonged to Harry's father and to "use it well." That night, after a satisfying Christmas dinner and after Ron has fallen asleep, Harry tries on his Invisibility Cloak. Unseen, he is able to go to the library's restricted-books section. But one of the books starts screaming when he opens it, so he quickly leaves. He passes Filch and hides in an old classroom as Filch is getting Snape to help him search the corridors. Inside stands an old mirror in a gold frame with the inscription "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi" ("I show not your face, but your heart's desire"). Harry looks in the mirror and sees many people standing behind him, but when he turns around in the room, he sees no one. Suddenly, he recognises that two of the people in the mirror are his dead mother and father . He tries to speak to them, but they can only communicate by waving. Harry lingers there a while but eventually returns to his room.
The next night, Harry brings Ron with him to the mirror room. Ron does not see Harry's parents in the mirror, but instead sees himself holding the Quidditch Cup. Mrs. Norris, Filch's prowling cat, notices them. On the third night, Ron is afraid of being caught and does not want to go back, as he does not trust the mirror, so Harry returns alone. There he finds Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore explains to Harry that the mirror, which is known as the Mirror of Erised, displays the deepest desires of whoever looks into it. Harry is relieved to find that Dumbledore is not angry. However, he warns Harry that men have wasted away and been driven mad before the mirror and informs Harry that the mirror will be moved to a new location and tells him not to go looking for it. When Harry asks what Dumbledore sees in the mirror, his answer is "himself holding a pair of socks."
Chapter 13: Nicolas Flamel[edit]
|I never thought to look in here!" she whispered excitedly. "I got this out of the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading.
–Hermione, remembering Nicolas Flamel.
Harry finds it hard to forget the image of his parents. Quidditch practice continues on even harder and it is revealed that Snape will referee the next match. Malfoy performs a leg-locker curse on Neville, and to cheer him up, Harry tells Neville he is "Worth twelve of Malfoy." Harry suddenly remembers that he read the name Nicolas Flamel on a chocolate frog card, which reminds Hermione that she had seen the name in a book she picked up from the library, and the team discover that he was a famous alchemist who is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone, which powers include turning any metal to gold and producing the Elixir of Life.
The Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff Quidditch match arrives and Snape, who referees the match, is predictably biased, while on the stands Ron and Neville get into a scuffle with Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle after Malfoy made some rude comments towards the players of their house's team as well as both of them. Harry catches the snitch and wins the match under five minutes, though Ron did not see this due to fighting Malfoy, and Neville is sent to the hospital wing due to the injuries he sustained from fighting both Crabbe and Goyle. Later, Harry notices and follows Snape into the Forbidden Forest by broomstick where he meets Quirrell and they speak of the Philosopher's Stone. Harry thinks that Snape is trying to figure out a way to steal the Stone.
Chapter 14: Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback[edit]
|But it's against our laws,...Dragon breeding was outlawed by the Warlocks' Convention of 1709, everyone knows that.
–Ron, warning Hagrid after finding out about Norbert.
Harry, Ron and Hermione meet with Hagrid, who confirms the Stone is being kept at Hogwarts. Hermione charms him into talking about the enchantments used to guard it: Fluffy, the three headed dog, is Hagrid's, along with enchantments from Professors Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall, Quirrell, and Snape . After this, Harry complains about the high temperature in Hagrid's hut, only to discover he has a Norwegian Ridgeback dragon egg, which he names Norbert once it has hatched. Malfoy, who has been spying then, discovers the dragon. To solve the problem, they convince Hagrid to send the dragon off to Ron's brother Charlie. Ron's hand is bitten by the dragon, and he is sent off to Madam Pomfrey. Harry and Hermione smuggle Norbert in a crate up to the tallest tower under Harry's Invisibility cloak and on the way they see Professor McGonagall hauling Malfoy away to detention for being out of bed at night and speaking "lies" about Harry and a dragon. They pass the crate off to Charlie's friends, and head back down the stairs, where they meet up with Filch, realising too late they had left the Invisibility Cloak behind.
Chapter 15: The Forbidden Forest[edit]
|Good luck, Harry Potter...The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times.
–Firenze saying goodbye to Harry.
Filch takes Harry and Hermione to McGonagall's office, where they meet Neville. McGonagall, very disappointed, takes 50 points each from the three of them and gives them all detention, which they will serve with Malfoy. Their popularity with the other students suffers because of this. A week or so before exams, Harry hears Professor Quirrell, sounding as if he is being threatened. So, Harry heads to the library to tell Ron and Hermione. They are convinced Snape was threatening Quirrell, and means to steal the Stone soon, and Hermione suggests they go to Dumbledore. Harry refuses, saying there is no proof.
Harry, Hermione, and Neville receive notes from Professor McGonagall telling them their detention will begin at eleven that night. Filch takes them out to the Forbidden Forest, where Hagrid awaits to take them in to do a bit of investigating. Hagrid shows them some silver unicorn blood, and says they need to find the unicorn that is hurt. They split up, with Hagrid taking Harry and Hermione, and Neville and Malfoy going with Fang. Hagrid encounters a few centaurs, named Ronan and Bane, but gets no useful information from them. Suddenly, Hagrid sees red sparks in the air, signalling the other party is in trouble. He runs for them and returns, scolding Malfoy for startling Neville into sending up the sparks. Hagrid switches Harry and Neville, sending Harry off with Malfoy instead. They eventually find the dead unicorn, and see something drinking its blood. Malfoy screams and runs with Fang, leaving Harry, who is saved from the figure by a centaur, named Firenze, who tells Harry that unicorn blood can keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but curses you with a half-life in the process. He also asks Harry if he would not know anyone who would want to drink the blood, or get the Stone, and Harry realises that the mysterious figure was Voldemort .
Back in the common room, Harry and Hermione tell Ron what happened. Afterwards, going into his bed, Harry finds that his Invisibility Cloak has been returned to him.
Chapter 16: Through the Trapdoor[edit]
|I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected.
–Professor McGonagall's wrong statement about the stone's security.
After finishing their exams, Harry realises the suspicious coincidence in Hagrid wanting a dragon more than anything else, only to meet a stranger who had one to give him. He, Ron, and Hermione run to ask him about the man who gave Norbert to him, and he says he never saw his face, and that the man was dressed in a cloak. Hagrid also mentions that they talked about Hogwarts and Fluffy the three-headed dog. He also mentions that the stranger gave him drinks while getting information out of him. Hagrid lets it slip how to get past Fluffy, which sends Harry, Ron and Hermione off. They head for Dumbledore's office, only to see McGonagall, who tells them he has left for London. McGonagall insists no one could steal the Stone, but they decide to head out that night to try to get it themselves. After Hermione curses Neville in a Full Body-Bind Curse for refusing to allow them to leave, they head up to the third floor room, and start their intense trip into the seven Philosopher's Stone Chambers. They find the door ajar, and a harp on the floor. Harry plays the flute Hagrid got him for Christmas, and Fluffy goes back to sleep. They head down through the trapdoor. They land in Professor Sprout's room, full of Devil's Snare, which almost smothers them before Hermione lights a fire and drives it off.
The next room, Professor Flitwick's, holds a bunch of flying keys and some broomsticks. Harry finds a silver one with a broken wing that is different from the others and catches it, unlocking the next door with it. The next room is Professor McGonagall's, and has a large chessboard, for a game of Wizard's Chess that Ron helps them win, at the cost of having to sacrifice himself and getting knocked out. Harry and Hermione continue to the next room, Professor Quirrell's, where they find an unconscious troll laying on the floor. Lastly, they enter Professor Snape's room, and find seven potions in bottles along with a roll of paper giving clues on which one to drink to continue, noting that three bottles have poison, two have nettle wine, one will send the drinker back, and the other will let the drinker move forward into the next room. Hermione tells Harry that it is a test of logic and not magic wherein most wizards fail. She solves the puzzle, and at Harry's instruction, drinks the one that will allow her to head back through the purple flame, while Harry drinks the one to head into the black flame and into the final room, where he is surprised at who he sees.
Chapter 17: The Man with Two Faces[edit]
|Tried to frighten me - as though he could, when I had Lord Voldemort on my side...
–Quirrell, talking to Harry about Snape.
It is Professor Quirrell who Harry sees in the room, not Snape. Harry, astonished, hears Quirrell tell him that, next to Snape, no one would expect him to try to steal the Stone and that Snape was actually protecting Harry. Harry notices the Mirror of Erised, and Quirrell stops to examine it, saying it is the key to getting the Stone. To distract him from the Mirror, Harry questions Quirrell, who says he is serving Lord Voldemort, and although Snape hated Harry, he never wanted Harry dead. Quirrell asks for help from his master to get the Stone, and a snake-like voice tells him to use the boy. Harry is told to look into the Mirror. He sees his reflection pull the Stone out of his pocket and put it back in, and Harry feels it drop into his own pocket. He lies to Quirrell about what he sees, telling him instead that he sees himself shaking hands with Dumbledore, after winning the House Cup for Gryffindor. The snake-like voice tells Quirrell Harry is lying and Quirrell takes his turban off to show Harry what lies on the back of his head. As Quirrell turns around, Harry is shocked to see another face where the back of Quirrell's head should be. The face has red eyes and a snake-like slit where the nose should be. Harry realises this is the face of Voldemort and Voldemort demands Harry give him the Stone. Harry refuses and runs, but Quirrell seizes him. However, the contact with Harry's skin burns Quirrell and causes him to have boils all over the area in which Harry touched him. Harry grabs Quirrell's face, then his arm, and holds on, with the blinding pain in his head building, until he feels the arm wrenched away before he blacks out.
He awakes in the hospital wing with Dumbledore there, telling him Quirrell did not succeed at getting the Stone, and indeed the Stone has been destroyed. In spite of this, there are other ways in which Voldemort can return. He cannot be killed, and he left Quirrell to die. Dumbledore explains the reason why Quirrell could not touch Harry was because Harry's mother had died to save him, protecting him with her love. Harry also Dumbledore about what Quirrell mentioned to him earlier regarding Snape hating Harry due to hatred for his his father. Dumbledore responds that Snape was only grudgingly protecting Harry this year to pay off a debt he owed due to James Potter saving his life during their Hogwarts years. Harry then receives a visit from Ron and Hermione, who reveal that Slytherin came in first for the House Cup and, with Harry unable to play in the championship Quidditch match, Ravenclaw easily won the match, before Madam Pomfrey forces them out. Hagrid shows up later and gives Harry a book of photos of his parents and family.
The following day, at the end of term feast, Dumbledore gives Ron and Hermione fifty points each, Harry sixty, and Neville ten, which allows them to win the House Cup, instead of Slytherin. Harry, Ron and Hermione all say their goodbyes before heading home.
List of Deaths[edit]
|Killed By
|Cause Of Death
|Quirinus Quirrell
|Lord Voldemort/Harry Potter
|Voldemort's departure from his body and critical injuries from Harry Potter.
|His body was left by Voldemort to die after being possessed.
|Lily Potter
|Lord Voldemort
|Avada Kedavra
|(Mentioned Only) Voldemort's attempt to kill the young boy in the prophecy.
|James Potter
Behind the Scenes[edit]
- The United States is one of the few countries that published the book under the title "Sorcerer's Stone" whereas most countries (including the U.K. obviously) use the original and proper title of the book, "Philosopher's Stone".
- Rowling has said that she came up with the idea for the book after the train she was on (returning to London) was delayed for four hours.
- In the earlier editions of the Bloomsbury edition, the back cover portrayed an unidentified pipe-smoking wizard. It is possible that this was meant to be Nicholas Flamel due to the bulge in his pocket, which could be the Philosopher's Stone.
- On page 17 of the Bloomsbury edition and in the original Scholastic Edition, Hagrid says, "I'll be takin' Sirius his bike back." But in the third book, it is made clear that Sirius told Hagrid to keep the bike because he (Sirius) didn't need it anymore. (This was changed to "I'd best get this bike away" in later editions.)
- While Harry is being Sorted into his house, before him was "Perks, Sally-Anne". But in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, when being called in alphabetical order to take practical O.W.L.s, "Patil, Parvati" is called just before Harry. Sally-Anne, however, could have left Hogwarts at some time between the start of her first year and the end of her fifth year, or she could have been unable to take her O.W.L.s on that day for some reason.
- In chapter 14 we learn that Hermione and Harry are sitting alone in the common room on Wednesday night, but in chapter 8 we learn that they had to study the night sky through their telescopes every Wednesday at midnight. (This was corrected to Saturday in later editions.)
- While being Sorted into houses, Harry looks up at the Sorting Hat's stool, and there are only three people left to be sorted. Professor McGonagall then calls out the names of four more students. (This is only in the US edition - in the UK edition, Dean Thomas's name is omitted. Rectified in later editions).
- Harry buys the book One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, but later, he ends up looking up "dittany" in One Hundred Magical Herbs and Fungi. (This was corrected in later editions.)
- On Harry's Hogwarts list of school supplies, "1 Wand" is listed twice, as both the first and last item on the list. However, this could have just been a mistake made by Professor Dumbledore or whoever writes the list of school supplies for Hogwarts' first years. (This was corrected in later editions.)
- In chapter 7 Nearly Headless Nick says that he hasn't eaten in 'nearly four hundred years', but in the second book, Harry goes to Nick's 500th Deathday party. (This was corrected in later editions.)
- Much of the first chapter talks about wizards celebrating the fall of Voldemort all day long, yet Harry's family was attacked at night; unless it took Hagrid 24 hours to get Harry from his parents' ruined house to Little Whinging, this seemingly does not make sense. A possible explanation, however, is that it does not say when Hagrid pulled him from the house. It could have been a full day until they could respond, or he could have kept Harry with him until night, when he could easily fly under cover of darkness to Little Whinging. He could have also gone to get the baby Harry checked over to see if he had been harmed. The day, however, is November 1, the day after Voldemort's downfall, so the celebrations are happening after his downfall the evening prior.
- In this book Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint is a sixth year, but he's still present in book three, which would make him an eighth year. (this was corrected in later editions).
- While fighting the giant chess set, Ron says he'll move "one step forward" in order for the queen to take him. Ron was playing as a knight, which moves two spaces then one space at the side, so this is impossible. (This was corrected in later editions.)
- The art for the cover of the book depicts Harry at Platform 9¾ wearing a Gryffindor scarf. However, Harry had not been Sorted by the Sorting Hat yet, thus not knowing he would be in Gryffindor.
- The art of the cover of the book depicts another train behind the Hogwarts Express.
- The list of supplies does not include potions ingredients, although Harry later buys them. These ingredients may have been a separate sheet of paper unseen to us, although the book specifically mentions there being 2 pieces of paper in Harry's letter.
- The 15th Anniversary U.S. cover by Kazu Kibuishi depicts Hagrid and Harry with only four fingers on their right hand.
- The first chapter takes place on November 1, 1981, which was a Sunday. However, on page 2 in the Scholastic edition, it says that the story begins on a Tuesday.
- During the scene in the hospital wing where Harry recovers, when Dumbledore is about to tell Harry that his father saved Snape's life, Dumbledore calls him "Snape" rather than "Professor Snape" which is how Dumbledore calls him when talking to Harry and even correcting Harry when he calls Snape "Snape" and Dumbledore would reply "Professor Snape, Harry." something he also does in this scene of the book.
Film adaptation[edit]
The book was also adapted into a film, starting the Harry Potter film series. The film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was released on November 4th, 2001 in United Kingdom and on November 10th in the United States. Chris Columbus is the director and Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson starred in the film.
See also[edit]
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (soundtrack)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (character index)
- First year
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/books/1
- ↑ Hall, Dinah. "Children's Books: Junior Fiction" The Sunday Telegraph, 27 July 1997: 14.
- ↑ Barnes and Noble interview, available via Accio Quote! and Internet Archive


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If you've bought a popular music CD (you know, those plastic discs with music on them?) from Amazon over the last 15 years, you may now be able to download those MP3s for free via your Amazon Cloud Player. Amazon announced its new service called "AutoRip" on Thursday morning, allowing customers who buy AutoRip-compatible CDs to automatically receive free digital copies of their music. The policy not only applies to CD purchases since 1998—it applies to any AutoRip-compatible CD you buy from this point forward.
The MP3s come in 256Kbps form and are currently available for more than 50,000 of the most popular albums since 1998, "including titles from every major record label," says Amazon. The downside is that it may be difficult to find AutoRipped MP3s for indie titles, though a quick search by Ars revealed that several indie CDs (purchased in 2000) were indeed available via AutoRip. AutoRip-compatible albums are automatically uploaded to your Cloud Player library and don't count against the Cloud Player storage limits.
It's clear the goal of AutoRip is to push more users to take advantage of its Cloud Player service, in addition to pushing them to buy more physical CDs. The move undoubtedly allows Amazon and the record industry to double dip when it comes to sales and download numbers, but it's hard to deny the convenience to customers as well. Cloud Player libraries can be played on any device that Amazon supports—including iPhones and iPads—as well as the Web, or they can be downloaded and transferred to any MP3 player.
It's also clear Amazon is making this announcement to take a shot at Apple. "In many cases, customers can buy an AutoRip CD, including the free digital copy, for less than they would pay for only the digital album at iTunes," the company said in a statement. Indeed, Amazon, but then I would have to store all those CDs somewhere, wouldn't I?

subset: commoncrawl


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See the stealth aircraft that revolutionized air combat.
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Equal rights advocate and pro athlete Brendon Ayanbadejo talks about overcoming barriers and accepting gay athletes.
Post by: Anderson Cooper
Filed under: Gay Rights • Sports
Although I dont agree with homosexuality, it doesn't give me the right to discriminate against a person who chooses to be gay. I believe in human rights for everyone, because myself iam a visible minority. I applaud Brendan for standing for a cause in which he believes.
Those players all relatively unrecognizable and unknown. i pray it doesn't happen.
It will never help sports in general or otherwise. A small mind has nothing to do with it.
We as a society spend to much time labeling everything. We always have to be recognized for something. Each group wants to be publicly recognized. The major problem with all of this is it creates division rather than unity. Now, I happen to be a straight white male. However, if I were to ask for a recognition day for any of those things, I would be in danger walking down the street. Remember, United We Stand, Divided We Fall.
Didn't Tebo come out?
I know Brett Favre did.
There already have been FIVE former NFL players that have come out. David Kopay, Roy Simmons, Esera Tuaolo, Wade Davis and Kwame Harris. There have also been former NBA players like John Amachi and MLBers like Billy Bean that have come out publically as well. I hope it happens and it will be great.
I believe this will not only help the people who are publicaly coming out about thier sexual orientation. But sports in general. Im sure many young adults who want to play sports, proff or not, will also benifit from players talking publically. If you can be who you are, you will thrieve that much more in every way of life. Dont let small mindness out weigh the importace of who you are and the impact you have on the next generation.
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Intel is about to experiment with a new concept in mass-market processors with its forthcoming Pentium G6951 CPU: upgradability. The chips will be upgradable by end users via a purchased code that is punched in to a special program. Previews of the processor quietly hit the Web last month, and with Engadget's post of the retail packaging, people took notice with reactions ranging from surprise to outright disgust.
The Pentium G6951 is a low-end processor. Dual core, 2.8GHz, 3 MB cache, and expected to be around $90 each when bought in bulk—identical to the already-shipping Pentium G6950. The special part is the software unlock. Buy an unlock code for around $50, run the software downloaded from Intel's site, and your processor will get two new features: hyperthreading will be enabled, and another 1 MB of cache will be unlocked, giving the chip a specification just short of Intel's lowest Core i3-branded processor, the 2.93 GHz Core i3-530. Once unlocked, the G6951 becomes a G6952.
The processors will ship as part of a pilot program next quarter to a select number of resellers in just four markets: US, Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain. Systems with the G6951 will have to use one of two specific Intel motherboards (DH55TC and DH55PJ), as well as an up-to-date BIOS. The process also needs an Internet connection: before authorizing the upgrade, the unlock code and ID of the OEM need to be validated by Intel. One OEM that will participate in the scheme is Gateway; the upgrade package that Engadget posted was for that company's forthcoming SX2841-09e desktop that will be available from Best Buy.
Reactions to the scheme have varied, but a common criticism has been that it's unfair to charge customers just to unlock things that a processor can already do. As Cory Doctorow put it, these are crippled processors that you have to pay extra to unlock. If Intel is shipping G6950-class processors that actually have 4 MB cache and hyperthreading support, the company should just unlock the features for everyone. Some have even suggested that the upgrade mechanism will be hacked, to allow people to upgrade for free.
There's an upside
For end-users, the processor offers a potentially attractive upgrade option. The systems built around these parts will be low-end, in the ballpark of $500 or less. A $50 upgrade—that doesn't even require you to open the case—that can offer a performance boost of 25 percent or more (depending on how much benefit the user's workload can gain from hyperthreading) is an attractive proposition.
For system-builders too, there are attractive features: the reason that the OEM's ID is validated with Intel is because OEMs will receive kickbacks for any systems that get upgraded in this way through a revenue-sharing system. Intel also argues that the scheme will allow OEMs to simplify and consolidate their product lines—instead of having to offer a bunch of similar systems with different processors, manufacturers will be able to offer fewer different processor options, relying on end-user upgrades to reinstate the variation in specifications.
The cost of a G6951 processor plus its upgrade is more than the cost of a Core i3-530 ($113 in bulk), so in that sense is poor value for someone who knows they want that level of performance to start out with, but for its target market that is beside the point. A Core i3-based system will cost more up-front, and that's not what buyers of these systems are after. People aren't going to buy the upgrade as soon as they get their shiny new computer home from the store. Rather, it'll be a way of extending the life of an existing machine, and on those terms, the pricing is something of a bargain.
You might not like it, but it ain't new
Whether buyers will resent unlocking capabilities that their systems already have is harder to say. Intel's move is not without precedent. In fact, this kind of unlocking has been a feature of the computer market for decades. Many mainframe systems were sold with what was, in effect, a throttle to limit their performance. Upgrading the performance would be as simple as opening up the case and flicking a switch or cutting a wire.
More recently, Asus' P5P800 motherboard offered a similar kind of upgrade for its integrated audio. Install the right software, and new features become available. And Apple charged $4.99 for software to unlock the 802.11n features of many of its systems.
Moving from hardware into the software world, this kind of thing is routine. There are a million pieces of shareware that disable features until a license key is entered. A lot of enterprise-grade software has multiple pricing tiers with the more expensive versions supporting, say, more concurrent users or larger datasets, even though the software is fundamentally the same across all versions. More controversially, there's the decision of companies like EA to charge secondhand buyers for multiplayer access, resulting in the situation where the same licensed copy of the game either does or doesn't support multiplayer depending on who's playing it.
Though these decisions have been met with grumbles from the buying public—especially in the case of game unlocks—they've all been broadly accepted by that same public. People might resent paying extra for capabilities that, in a sense, they already "have," but when push comes to shove, they'll hand over the cash anyway.
Market realities of the processor business
A case can also be made that far from being a repellent money-grab, this is in fact an interesting way of reacting to realities of the microprocessor market. Intel sells many different processors, with a huge range of cache sizes, speed grades, and core counts; to that mix, there are also a number of features such as TXT and hyperthreading that are only found on certain parts. But Intel doesn't design a specific processor for each particular mix of cache size, speed, number of cores, and extra features.
Instead, the company designs a few processors that can do everything ("real" variations include core count, presence of QPI connections, number of memory channels, and a few other things), and then selectively disables features. Sometimes the decision is made for Intel—a chip might have a manufacturing defect that limits the amount of cache it can use, and not all chips can run at the same frequency within a given power envelope—but a lot of the time, the company is disabling functional hardware. For example, every Pentium G6950 processor has the hardware to do hyperthreading. It's just that it's been permanently disabled at the factory, because Intel's bean-counters have decided that that particular grade of processor won't have hyperthreading.
By offering software unlocks, users can reclaim these disabled features at a later date, if they decide that they'd be worthwhile. Given the choice between permanent disablement and unlockable upgrades, the latter is clearly the better option.
Intel is not alone in this, of course. Those mainframe manufacturers did the same, for the same reason as Intel: it doesn't make sense to manufacture different systems for each price point. AMD does it—those Phenom X3 processors are built with four cores, and sometimes can even have the fourth core re-enabled—NVIDIA does it—the GTX 470 is a GTX 480 with 32 shader cores disabled. Intel certainly takes the differentiation further than its competitors, but its overall approach is unexceptional.
Profit-making companies want to make a profit
If all Intel processors can support all the different features, some have argued that all Intel's processors should have these things unlocked. While that would obviously have some appeal—who wouldn't want the specs of a $1,000 CPU for $100—it ignores market realities. Remember, Intel wants to make a profit. Sure, the company would certainly be able to enable all the features on all its processors, but if it did so, it would no longer be able to charge many hundreds of dollars for the high-end parts.
It might still be able to differentiate according to clock speed, but there are limits even there; once Intel's fabs have got into the swing of making a new processor, it's fair to say that a large proportion of them will run at the top specified speed grade, if Intel wanted them to. Enabling the full range of a processor's capabilities would leave the company with just a handful of different models.
This leaves the company—the company that has an obligation to maximize its shareholder returns—with two options. It could drastically cut the range of models and increase the price of each processor to some kind of average, or it can artificially introduce variety by disabling features or running some parts at below their maximum possible frequency. If it did the former, a lot of people that are today gladly buying systems built around parts costing $90 or less would find themselves priced out of the market. Sure, it'd be great for people picking up a Core i7-980X for a few hundred bucks instead of its current $999, but it'd be lousy for those at the other end of the market. The "third" option—sell full-spec processors for bargain basement prices—isn't realistic given the desire for profit.
Which is why it's not a bad thing that Intel doesn't do that, and it's why selective disabling of processor features is here to stay. Some may be offended at, in some sense or other, not getting all the power their processor has to offer, but it was always like this. The new processors don't change that basic fact.
In the light of this, should we not be welcoming these new upgradable processors? They allow CPU manufacturers to address market realities, while also providing cheap, easy-to-use, waste-free upgrades to those who want them. Surely this gives consumers more options and better value.
Or to use Cory Doctorow's terminology, are we not now being given the choice between "crippled processors" that we can't pay extra to unlock, and a new generation of "crippled processors" that we can pay to unlock? It's hard to see how this is anything other than a step forward.


text:
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Speed Vegan Spring Giveaway!
Nothing says "early growing season" like fresh greens, and Swiss chard is one of my faves. I'm also a big fan of white beans, so this soup was the perfect combination. As with all the recipes in Alan Roettinger's Speed Vegan, this dish came together in a matter of minutes.
Lucky for one of y'all, the Book Publishing Company (publisher of Speed Vegan) is letting me give away a copy of Speed Vegan to one lucky reader! See the bottom of this post for details on how to enter. Read my review of Speed Vegan here.
You can't have soup without bread! So this was the perfect opportunity to make Sarah Kramer's Sassy Sandwich Bread, the March recipe in her Go Vegan! 2011 Wall Calendar:
The recipe is accompanied by an adorable parody album cover of the Beastie Boys' "Check Your Head." Instead of Ad-Rock, Mike D, and MCA, the picture features three gansta Sarah Kramer's in toboggans, sneakers, and shades with the words "Yeastie Boys" and "Check Your Bread." Cute, right? The bread, by the way, is absolutely delish! Soft and chewy and perfect topped with a little melted Daiya vegan cheese.
Ok, now for the giveaway details. Leave me a comment about your favorite quick, gourmet-ish meal ideas.
For an extra chance to win, tweet about the giveaway and leave an additional comment letting me know you did. For an extra, extra chance, link back to the contest from Facebook and leave yet another comment to let me know. And finally, for a fourth chance, link back to this contest on your blog (if you have one), and leave yet another comment to fill me in. That's four chances to win!
If you don't have a Blogger account with a listed email, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. Good luck! I'll randomly select one winner on Wednesday night (March 23rd).
49 comments:
- Emily said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- March 20, 2011 at 10:36 PM
- Emily said...
My favorite quick and gourmet meal would have to be Mofongo. Mofongo is lightly fried plantains with garlic, olive oil, and chicharrones. I replace the chicharrones with tempeh bacon, and then it's topped with a typically fried Caribbean meat, I never top it with the same thing twice. It seems gourmet when eaten in the states, because it's Puerto Rican.
My mother always makes it fancy and serves it in the mortar, but it doesn't really take that long. It was one of the first things I veganized.
Email= email@example.com
- March 20, 2011 at 10:38 PM
- MeloMeals said...
That soup looks so good! I love the bread too.
- March 20, 2011 at 10:58 PM
- Jacinta said...
Love your blog, the soup looks delicious. Togo speedy meal, gotta be a veggie sandwich, spread the veganaise, add the veggies, chow down. Top it off with soup, I always keep a variety of single serves available in the freezer to grab and go for lunch.
- March 20, 2011 at 10:59 PM
- Radish said...
For a quick meal, I like simple tempeh tacos with cilantro and lime. They can be jazzed up with additional ingredients or left in all their simple glory. Also, rice, beans and kale are all nice on the side.
- March 20, 2011 at 11:39 PM
- Hannah said...
I don't know if this is gourmet-ish, but I love frying chickpeas for a garnish on salads, to up the tasty and pretty factor of a speedy dinner :)
- March 21, 2011 at 1:15 AM
- Kris said...
Ooh, that soup looks good. I was dreaming of a white bean and kale soup today, that's close enough.
My favorite quick meal is a giant, fancy salad. It is considered fancy because it has nuts sprinkled on top, when all the veggie/dressing goodness is said and done.
- March 21, 2011 at 1:36 AM
I don't know if it is gourmet-ish but it is speedy and great to use up leftovers. I always have left over hummus lurking in the fridge. So I add the hummus to a pot and add water and any seasoning (bouillon cube, spices, garlic,salt and pepper,etc)
Heat and stir over medium-low to medium high heat until heated through. Sometimes, left over veggies are added to the sauce. Sometimes, nooch is added for a cheesy sauce.The sauce is poured over pasta. Optional is cilantro or parsley. Voila, dinner!
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- March 21, 2011 at 1:44 AM
- Katie said...
I love making quick, chunky marinara with spinach and nooch in a flash to go over pasta! Would love to see what this cookbook has to offer. :)
- March 21, 2011 at 6:16 AM
- Lauren Lowe said...
VeganDad's Sweet and Sour chickpeas are fast, cheap, and amazing!
- March 21, 2011 at 6:21 AM
- Meg said...
I find adding curry powder to ketchup dresses up a dull veggie burger.
- March 21, 2011 at 7:16 AM
- Rachel said...
One of my favorite quick and gourmet meals is Chloe Coscarelli's avocado pesto pasta. If you have the ingredients it's merely boiling the pasta and turning on the blender but it looks and tastes like so much more!
- March 21, 2011 at 7:38 AM
- Jessica Crossfield said...
My favorite quick, gourmet-ish meal is gnocchi with cashew cream sauce and sauteed greens. It always pleases omnivores and is a snap to make!
- March 21, 2011 at 7:56 AM
- Dianne said...
Quick, gourmet-ish meals are my favorite! When in doubt, I usually go for a selection of dips with crudites and good bread.
- March 21, 2011 at 8:12 AM
- Nichole said...
I love making veggie enchiladas, rice, and black beans for a quick great meal for company.
- March 21, 2011 at 8:30 AM
- Leah said...
My favorite speedy gourmet dishes use the pressure cooker (you should REALLY read Great Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure by Lorna Sass!). I'd have to call it a tie between risotto with winter squash vs porcini muchrooms. Both can be on the table in less than 30 minutes with very little interactive time!
- March 21, 2011 at 8:41 AM
- Leslie Richman said...
I love to sautee veggies and cook them on a piece of flatbread for a fancy pizza. Sun dried tomatoes, spinach, and olives really raise the rent on a quick meal like that! :)
- March 21, 2011 at 9:09 AM
My favorite gourmet meal is to make an indian style pizza on frozen naan; using crushed tomatoes+panang curry; and topping it with rosted chickpeas and cilantro.
- March 21, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Oh; I tweeted. For some reason that makes me giggle like the song "Somebody Farted". Yep; I'm 12.
- March 21, 2011 at 9:40 AM
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand I facebooked. I'll blog about it later :)
- March 21, 2011 at 9:40 AM
I like to quickly steam collard greens, coat them in balsamic or rice vinegar, and toss in sunflower seeds and dried cranberries. Exceptionally nutritious, fast, and delicious.
- March 21, 2011 at 12:03 PM
My favorite speedy gourmet meal is anything with pesto. I always have some pesto ready to go in the freezer- all it needs is a fresh pot of pasta or some tofu and veggies to coat. Easy-peasy!
- March 21, 2011 at 1:10 PM
Spring was lousy in Southern California, a huge downpour!
- March 21, 2011 at 1:41 PM
I love to make Chana Masala with basmati rice for a quick and simple weeknight meal that tastes like it took forever.
- March 21, 2011 at 1:49 PM
- Unknown said...
I'm more of a homestyle cook so as far as gourmet dishes this is kinda tough.
I guess I'd have to say spinach and cashew cheese roll-ups servied on top of a tomato ragu. Sounds fancy! lol it's like sliced lasagna roll-ups with a homemade chunky sauce. So yummy!
- March 21, 2011 at 2:13 PM
- Just Us said...
quick gourmet meal...hmmm I would have to say a veggie pasta. I normally go more quick than gourmet. :o)
- March 21, 2011 at 2:31 PM
- Carrie said...
My favourite super quick 'gourmet-ish' meal is a quick-cooking soup. I'll throw in some already cooked beans, a tin of tomatoes, and some quick-cooking veggies (whatever I have on hand). Season and voila, there you have it.
- March 21, 2011 at 2:47 PM
- Taylor said...
Best quick, semi- gourmet meal has gotta be opening up a can of chickpease and simmering them and some baby spinach in a sauce of lemon, butter, dijon mustard spices and water while the pasta cooks.
- March 21, 2011 at 2:54 PM
- Kelsey Ann said...
definitely would have to be STUFFED FRENCH TOAST!! <3 mmmmm <3
- March 21, 2011 at 6:00 PM
- kmm22 said...
not very gourmet, but my go to is always a big salad, especially w/ a tahini based dressing.
- March 21, 2011 at 8:04 PM
- Kara Hadley said...
Anything eaten with a knife and a fork feels gourmet to me. So...I leave the top slice of bread off my sandwiches. Instant class, right?
- March 21, 2011 at 9:05 PM
- Katelyn (new kid on the vegan block) said...
Might not be that gourmet, but sauteed veggies with lentils is certainly quick and delicious. Adding lots of garlic, cumin and paprika gives it a ton of flavor.
- March 21, 2011 at 9:06 PM
- Jennifer said...
I like to make a "fancy" appetizer by toasting sourdough bread with olive oil. I then top it with a mixture of capers, green olives, artichokes and lemon zest. Yum!
jennylovesjeff (at) hotmail (dot) com
- March 21, 2011 at 9:32 PM
- Tofu Mom (AKA Tofu-n-Sprouts) said...
Mmmmm, anything with capers seems "gourmet" to me, hahahah, so I put them in soups, salads, whatever I want to make seem fancy and all...
- March 22, 2011 at 1:21 AM
- Tofu Mom (AKA Tofu-n-Sprouts) said...
Oh - and I Twittered...
- March 22, 2011 at 1:22 AM
if it has ridges like a panini that I make sounds gourmet... but maybe someone will not think that
my favourite thing to make for the last 3 weeks is:
ROCKIN' REUBEN from Julie Hasson's new book, `Vegan Diner'
I recommend it to anyone!
Bianca: I recently `discovered' your blog :) very nice
- March 22, 2011 at 7:35 AM
Quick Gourmet teriyaki tempeh with onions, green peppers and sesame seeds. Just throw some olive oil in a wok, dump your ingredients, stir fry to a crisp and season to taste.
- March 22, 2011 at 11:03 AM
- and_i_say said...
For a quick gourmet style meal, I almost always turn to tofu with homemade Asian inspired sauces, fresh veggies, and rice.
Email: CuteDemocrat (at) gmail (dot) com
- March 22, 2011 at 11:38 AM
- and_i_say said...
I mentioned your contest on my blog here:
Email: CuteDemocrat (at) gmail (dot) com
- March 22, 2011 at 11:39 AM
- and_i_say said...
I linked to your contest on my fb.
Email: CuteDemocrat (at) gmail (dot) com
- March 22, 2011 at 11:40 AM
- VeganCraftastic said...
Thanks for the chance to win! My favorite quick gourmet-ish thing to make is enchiladas, making them from scratch makes me feel fancy! :)
- March 22, 2011 at 12:16 PM
- Jennifer said...
My favorite gourmet meal is sauteed spinach and garlic that I put on crusty bread.
- March 22, 2011 at 4:38 PM
- Jennifer said...
I have linked your contest to my blog. It gave me something to mention on this otherwise boring food sick day.
- March 22, 2011 at 4:43 PM
- Serafina said...
I don't really do "gourmet," but in about thirty minutes I can create a pretty amazing smoked tofu sandwich with pickled carrots and onions and garlic veganaise on homemade sea-salt topped wheat rolls. A sandwich may not be gourmet by most peoples standards, but when you're used to eating a good ol' pb&j, this sandwich ranks pretty high on the gourmet scale.
- March 22, 2011 at 7:41 PM
- Ali - YumVeggieBurger said...
stir-fry is my favorite speedy dinner. quick, easy, and so versatile!
- March 22, 2011 at 11:15 PM
- Mel Def said...
Fav quick meal is pinto beans mixed with salsa slathered on a corn tortilla with a bit of Daiya cheeze sprinkled on it then thrown in the toaster over to heat and melt!
- March 23, 2011 at 4:04 AM
- HA said...
My favorite "Gourmet" meal is anything homemade seitan-based! Especially if the recipe is coming from Jenn Shaggy.
- March 23, 2011 at 11:56 AM
I love a big salad for a quick meal...I make it "gourmet" and special by chopping the veggies on the bias and making my own dressing etc. Fancy, healthy, AND quick!
- March 23, 2011 at 6:44 PM
- moonsword said...
My favorite quickie is to cook quinoa or couscous with a can of lentil soup instead of just water...so yummy! I only just discovered this so I must try other soups and grains together...then maybe top them with breadcrumbs, Daiya, crumbled tortilla chips, etc and bake them as casseroles. Lots of experimenting to do!
- March 23, 2011 at 10:52 PM


text:
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You may return the purchased products within 60 days of receipt of the shipment. Items must be in an undamaged condition and with original labels not removed.


text:
And the Emmy winners are...? We're happy to guess!
Truth be told, we're both perplexed about which Emmy nominees will carry trophies home from Monday's ceremony.
Allow us to explain. There was so much great TV last season that standout prime-time shows including "The Good Wife" and "Scandal" and stars Michael Sheen ("Masters of Sex") and James Spader ("The Blacklist") didn't even make the cut as nominees.
Those who did are, for the most part, richly deserving. But now how to choose among them?
Then there's this year's notable trend of shape-shifting, with programs squeezed into categories that could give them better odds of winning — even if the fit might raise viewers' eyebrows.
Cases in point: Netflix's prison-set "Orange Is the New Black," which despite its dark content is vying with the likes of "Modern Family" for comedy laurels, and HBO's "True Detective," which looks all the world like a miniseries yet is gunning for "Mad Men" and other open-ended dramas.
Thanks, TV academy, for keeping us all guessing!
Even so, this pair of TV devotees are game to try to read the minds of Emmy voters and, in a bit of bravado, offer up our choices for the best of the best.
Here are the contenders and our own sometimes clashing, sometimes matching picks for seven major categories:
Drama Series
Lynn Elber
Should win: "Game of Thrones." An epic series from epic novels. Drop the anti-fantasy bias, Emmy.
Will win: "True Detective." Such a brilliant miniseries. But we quibble, and voters won't.
Frazier Moore
Should win: "True Detective." Grim, gritty, wickedly addictive.
Will win: "True Detective." How could Emmy snub this true masterpiece?
Comedy Series
Should win: "Louie." Honesty is the best policy — and so brutally funny.
Will win: "Modern Family." It's big-hearted and on broadcast TV. Old school wins one.
Should win: "Louie." Emmy needs to kick the "Modern Family" habit.
Will win: "Veep." Emmy will kick the habit — by rewarding the wrong show.
Actor, Drama Series
Should win: Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad." His deserving swan song, powerful to the end.
Will win: Matthew McConaughey. Impeccable performance. Plus he seduced Oscar, so how can Emmy resist?
Should win: Matthew McConaughey, "True Detective." Edges out co-star Woody Harrelson only because he got to play two roles — not just one — brilliantly.
Will win: Jon Hamm, "Mad Men." Enhanced his character's palette with new colors this season. With time running out for him, the Susan Lucci tease will end.
Actress, Drama Series
Should win: Kerry Washington, "Scandal." Carries a mad, mad world on her shoulders with aplomb.
Will win: Robin Wright, "House of Cards." Goes beat-for-beat with Kevin Spacey. That's impressive power.
Should win: Kerry Washington, "Scandal." Fiery, fearsome, outrageous and yet lovable.
Will win: Robin Wright, "House of Cards." She plays a chilly, not blazing, D.C. powerbroker. Her cool will rule.
Actor, Comedy Series
Should win: Don Cheadle, "House of Lies." Comedy is hard? Not in the hands of this supremely versatile actor.
Will win: William H. Macy, "Shameless." Emmy feels better saluting his depraved dad for comedy than drama.
Should win: William H. Macy, "Shameless." A great actor in a go-for-broke performance. Plus, a great head of hair!
Will win: Louis C.K., "Louie." More comedy, more soul than his rivals in this unique artist's portrait of himself.
Actress, Comedy Series
Should win: Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation." Wittily brings can-do perkiness back to TV.
Will win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep," HBO. But let's get real: a me-first politician rules again with voters.
Should win: Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation." Her performance radiates sunshine even Emmy snubs can't dim.
Will win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep." But she's pressing reasonable term limits for Emmy's largesse.
Should win: "Fargo." A glorious movie made new by TV's narrative form.
Will win: "Fargo." Emmy won't miss a chance to remind all that drama's heyday is on the small screen.
Should win: "Fargo." A Tiffany egg of a miniseries in its painstaking perfection. Plus it's bitterly hilarious.
Will win: "Fargo." Emmy has moments of myopia, but it ain't blind.


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Select a vehicle year and model below to get a valuation.
Pontiac Book Values: Pontiac is considered a sporty division of GM. Founded in 1926, Pontiac cars have long been sought after for their performance - and today's cars are no exception. From its sporty two-seater convertible to its performance-minded sedans, Pontiac still understands that some consumers want their daily vehicle to be capable of providing a thrilling driving experience.


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The focus of Center Point treatment services is to reintegrate the individual into the community with the coping skills necessary to sustain recovery, employment and housing stability. Center Point's substance use and mental health programs offer integrated treatment services with individualized treatment planning, resulting in high rates of engagement, reduced institutionalization and remission of substance use. Evidence based services are offered in California, and Texas and share a fundamental goal: to develop individual, personal, social and moral responsibility and to nurture the full potential of those served.
Successful recovery depends on concurrently addressing mental health and substance abuse issues in an integrated, multi-disciplinary environment. Center Point offers programs designed specifically to meet this need through a state of the art service delivery system focused on whole person needs, strengths and values.
Therapeutic Concepts
EmpathyThe ability to imagine how others feel. In order to develop my empathetic skills I must ask myself, "How would I feel under the same circumstances?"
When I put out the positive effort and energy to begin an action that is likely to help me effect a constructive change in my life.
EffortWorking hard in order to achieve a goal worth reaching. Putting out the necessary energy to get what I really want. Effort plus initiative adds up to success in the end.
Open ChannelThe ability to communicate my thoughts and feelings in an open, honest way without judgment or censorship. In order to maintain an open channel I must be willing to: 1) totally disclose what I'm thinking and feeling; 2) be receptive to others viewpoints; 3) maintain a self-critical attitude.
SupportWhen I show care and concern not only for myself but for those around me by being truthful with my feelings and acting responsibly for myself and towards others, I am being supportive. When I care enough for others to confront their destructive behavior.
ResponsibilityStart with the realization that I am the cause and not the victim of what happens to me. When I think through and I am accountable for my own actions, I am being responsible.
CompletionFinishing what I start. Following through with things until I reach a satisfactory resolution and sense of completion.
PrideThe good feeling I have about myself that comes with being responsible, showing integrity and following through.
TrustingWhen I allow myself to rely upon or believe in the integrity of another person, I am being trusting. Allowing others to see who I really am inside and what I usually hide, is a way of showing my trust. The willingness to accept that others care about my life and feelings as they really are.
IntegrityWhen I behave in an honest, responsible and accountable manner, I am choosing to live my life with integrity. In order to live my life with integrity, I must develop a keen sense of right and wrong.
SpiritualityThe personal quest to find answers to the ultimate questions about life, values, free choice, about meaning, our purpose in life and our connection to the sacred or transcendent. Spirituality is inwardly directed, without doctrine and is unifying rather than dividing.
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HonestyThe ability to communicate true feelings, thoughts and intentions in a sincere, straightforward manner without guile, deception or ulterior motive. When I fully disclose the truth, regardless of the consequences, I am being honest.
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HonorThe special quality of grace which distinguishes us and forces us to act with dignity, respect and esteem. Honor is the reputable code of behavior by which we act and by which we are judged by others.


text:
Mediator Holds Meeting on Ryerson
Washington PA
Observer Reporter
26 January 2013
By Bob Niedbala, Staff Writer
WAYNESBURG – They spoke of their memories of boating and fishing at Ryerson Station State Park and of the importance of the park, not only in terms of recreational opportunities but also in terms of its impact on the local economy, and all agreed the park lake, drained more than seven years ago, should be restored as soon as possible.
More than 40 people spoke at a public meeting Saturday at Waynesburg University held by attorney Thomas Rutter, a mediator hired to negotiate a settlement in litigation regarding the destruction of the dam that created the park's 62-acre Duke Lake.
Those who addressed Rutter, including a number of employees of Consol Energy, whose mining has been blamed for the dam's demise, spoke about the importance of the lake to area residents and the need for it to be restored.
"That was a destination for us as a family," county Commissioner Blair Zimmerman said, speaking as an individual. He said he frequently took his children to the park.
"It was a good place to picnic and a good place to go out on the lake to fish," he said. Zimmerman recalled that when he coached track at Waynesburg University, he also would take his athletes to Ryerson "and they fell in love with the place."
The lake's restoration is long overdue, Zimmerman said. "It's our park and we want it back the way it was."
The park is important for recreation, but also for the local economy, attracting tourists, fishermen, hikers and hunters to the area, said the Rev. Donald Wilson.
Restoring the lake will help restore a sense of pride and dignity to the area, he said.
"Too often, Greene County has been viewed as a forgotten area, neglected, overlooked, unimportant," he said. "The way the dam sits now, that's precisely what it says." Restoring the lake will help restore pride; people will say "This is our area and we're proud of it, we're happy to be here."
Jim Goroncy, a Consol miner, said everyone wants the lake to be restored for the recreational opportunities it offers the community.
But he also asked where the county would be without the coal and natural gas industries, which provide jobs, a tax base and business for local stores.
Goroncy said coal and gas companies must do their jobs in a safe and responsible manner, and he believes Consol does that. He said he supports the resolution of the case and restoration of the lake in a manner "equitable" to all parties involved.
Expanding cracks in the 45-year-old concrete dam forced the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in July 2005 to drain the lake and remove part of the dam.
DCNR subsequently filed a claim against Consol suggesting the damage was caused by the company's Bailey Mine, which was longwall mining near the park.
The state Department of Environmental Protection, which investigated the claim, determined the damage was caused by mining and ordered Consol to restore the dam.
Consol, which denies its activities caused the damage, appealed DEP's decision to the state Environmental Hearing Board, where the case is scheduled for trial in May.
Rutter said it was important to him in agreeing to mediate the case to come to Greene County to hear from the people what they want in regards to Ryerson.
Though mediation is normally confidential, he said, he was authorized by the parties to offer a few of his own thoughts, "trial balloons," to resolve the dispute. He emphasized the plan he mentioned has not been approved by parties to the case.
He said his thought is to have Consol pay the full costs of replacing the dam and in return be allowed to drill for Marcellus Shale gas, not in the park, but from property the company owns adjacent to park property.
The company also would donate property it now owns adjacent to the park, about 560 acres, to the state to increase the total park acreage, he said.
Rutter said he believes all parties want to see the dam rebuilt.
"One of the key and major considerations is that the dam be replaced at no costs or expense to the taxpayers, but rather at the cost of the coal company," he said.
Consol, however, claims it has done nothing wrong and it has experts to say its mining activities were not responsible for the damage, Rutter said.
DCNR has experts, too, who say the company's activities caused the damage. But remember, Rutter said, the state could lose the case and the company will pay nothing to restore the lake.
Mediation always requires "give and take," Rutter said. If the parties can't settle, litigation will continue. "I figure if it goes down the whole litigation route, I will be lucky if I'm in a nursing home when the case is finally decided," he said. If not lucky, he said, "I'll be looking at the scene from the walls of a crypt."
In addition to hearing from more than 40 speakers, Rutter said he had received about 140 letters, all endorsing the restoration of the dam.